Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-02-11
GRACE DARLING.
A GIRL WHOSE NAME STANDS HIGH ON
THE ROLL OF FAME.
THE NOBLE ACT OF HEROlSM PER
FORMED BY THE DAUGHTER OF
AN ENGLISH LIGHTHOUSE KEEP
ER-HER MATCHLESS INTREPID
ITY AND ENDURANCE.

[H. Maria George in Woman's Magazine J
The most renowned heroine who
ever rose from the common ranks
was Jeanne Dare, who from a
shepherd girl became the savior OF
France and the protector OF a king
dom. But perhaps she did not one
act of herOism that equaled that
performed by Grace Darling, a poor
English girl, who rlsked her life
repeated times to rescue a number
of her fellow.creatures. Jeanne
was a political heroine, and her
name will always stand high on the
roll of fame, but underneath 1t,
we would write the name of the
English coast girl, the heroine of
humanity.
On the night of September q,
1888, the Forfarshine steamer, pro-
ceeding from Hull to Dundee, was
wrecked on one Of the crags OF the
Farne Islands, England. OF fifty
three persons on board, thirty-eight
perished, including the captain and
his wife.
1t was about three o'clock when
the vessel struck. It's stern, quar-
ter deck and cabin were swept away
in less than five minutes. To the
fore part, which remained fast on
the rocks, clung the few passengers
and sailors who had not been swept
away by the raging element. All
through the raging storm and cold
of that autumn morning these un-
happy people remained, crying for
help, and expecting every instant
to share the fate of their cOmpan-
ions.
At the Longstone lighthouse, on
one of the most exposed of the
Farne Islands, lived the aged keep
er and his daughter, Grace Darling
Grace was a daring girl, at this
time about twenty-five years of age
Bred to the hardships Of the coast
she was as strong and active as a
man. She could row boat or ride
a horse equally well, and loved the
retired life as well as the stormy
petrels that tbrOnged around heI
island home. a sun.burned
bronzed, hardy little thing, shy as
a Shetland pony and as graceful
she hardly looked the ideal heroine
and vet none braver ever lived.
She was awakened before dawr
on the morning of the seventh by
the piteous cries of the wrecked
passengers. Hastily dressing, sh'
called her father and they went on
upon the rocks. The wind stli
blew a gale, and the waves wer'
running high. AS the darkness
lifted from the sea they could dis
Germ the survivors clinging TO TIM
remnant of the vessel, and III I'm
minent danger of being washed OF
by the returning tide.
"Father, we must 60 to thei
rescue" cried Grace, her generou
sympathy touched at the sense o
their peril.
at is impossible" answered he
father. "The strongest boat woul'
be torn to pieces in an instant"
She said no more for time, bu
as the daybreak broadened, AM
she could see the hapless creature
beckoning for aid, she could endur
it no longer.
She went down and launched
boat, and against her fathers re
monstrances seized an oar and Ell
tered it. This was enough; he
father stayed back no longer.
With matchless intrepidity sh
guided the frail craft through tn
raging seas, and in spite of the a
most certain destruction whlc
threatened them, they succeeded !
reaching the wreck. BY a DANCE
ous and desperate effort the fathe
was landed on the rocks, and
prevent the boat from beng dashe
to pieces it was rowed back a shol
distance, and kept afloat by til
skillfulness and dexterlty OF til
! brave young woman.
The boat was too small TOR a
. the wreched crew to be conveye
3 together to the lighthouse. Thr'
= times did the heroic girl make Il
T journey, landing three at tim
0 her father remaining on the wreC
to help the distressed sufferers er
n bark. Once one of her oars WI
g snapped in twain by a crested b
low, but happily there was an o
? ira one on board, which Gra
I seized, and by means of it save
n the skiff from being dashed
Il pieces.
D. By nine o'clock in the mOrnin
n and after the most incredible exc
W tlon and daring, Grace landed 4
g. whole of the survivors, consistil
of five of the crew and four of {
y passengers, at the lighthouse. S
u did It at the risk Of her life, al
" against the remonstrances of h
father, and in spite of the terrlt
combating of the winds and t
waves. Artists of no mean tale
~ ~ have portrayed the scene, POT
g. have celebrated the heroic act, a
H. their memory will live forever.
O. For three days and three nigl